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Regular-article-logo Friday, 17 October 2025

Awareness drive against talaq fatwa - NGO to hold seminars

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OUR CORRESPONDENT Published 27.04.12, 12:00 AM

Guwahati, April 26: Prominent Muslims in Assam will generate public opinion on the latest fatwa issued by Darul Uloom Deoband in favour of a talaq (divorce), given by an inebriated man even on a mobile phone.

Al-Ameen Welfare Society, a non-profit and apolitical organisation will collaborate with some women NGOs to organise seminars, public meetings and workshops on the issue.

Darul Uloom Deoband is a renowned Islamic seminary located in Deoband, a town in Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. It had recently declared that a woman could not continue living with her husband, after he had inadvertently uttered the word talaq thrice and later admitted he was drunk. The seminary had also said the divorce would be valid, even if it is uttered over phone.

The society secretary Taufik Rahman Borbora told The Telegraph that he does not want to comment on the issue right now. However, he added that there was a need to have in-depth discussions or deliberations so that Islam and the original text written in the holy Quran is not misinterpreted or misunderstood.

“We are looking forward to some women NGOs joining us in organising seminars and meetings to discuss about the good and bad aspects of such a fatwa. In the beginning, consumption of alcohol was allowed in Islam. But later, drinking was prohibited when Muslims in the Arab world started entering mosques in an inebriated condition. It must be kept in mind that we should not take a one-sided stand on the fatwa,” Borbora, who is also a retired principal of Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh, said.

Ayesha Ashraf Ahmed, an educationist and social activist, said, Islam was a misunderstood and misinterpreted religion, especially in case of women’s rights. “When the very drinking of alcohol is prohibited and considered haram (illicit), how could uttering talaq in an inebriated condition be accepted?” she asked.

“Even though marrying up to four times is allowed in Islam, it has certain conditions. A man must be able to give equal attention, love and care to all his wives, which is not practical in real life, especially in the present world,” Ahmed said.

Quoting a verse of the Quran that reads “Ar rizaln qawwamuna alan nisae”, Ahmed said the popular interpretation of the verse said men were superior to women, which was absolutely false. She said the true meaning of the verse was that man was the protector and maintainer of woman.

“Organisations like the Al-Ameen Welfare Society must create awareness on the issue,” she said.

A Muslim woman working in a city college said the latest fatwa was an attempt by a section of people to misinterpret Islam and Quran to exploit women.

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